Offseason Program Countdown: 8 Days

Believe it or not, the beginning of the Eagles 2014 season is rapidly approaching. Players will report back to the NovaCare Complex on April 21 for the start of the Eagles offseason program. Join us as we count down until the Eagles are back in town …

Riley Cooper had a breakout season in 2013 for the Philadelphia Eagles, and it could not have come at a better time for the 2010 fifth-round pick who was in the last year of his rookie contract. At 6-foot-3, 222 pounds, Cooper had flashed potential in limited playing time in the past, but his fourth season is really when he came into his own. After Jeremy Maclin went down with an ACL injury in Training Camp, Cooper stepped up to fill his void and performed admirably as a complementary receiving weapon in the Eagles offense. He finished the season posting career highs with 47 catches, 835 yards and eight touchdowns, and his 17.8 yards per catch ranked tied for third in the NFL with Calvin Johnson. Cooper was rewarded by the Eagles in the offseason with a five-year contract.

In his first season with the Eagles, Donnie Jones became something of a folk hero in Philadelphia for his ability to be a game changer at an otherwise overlooked position. Chip Kelly and Howie Roseman made it a priority to improve special teams during the 2013 offseason, and they pounced on Jones as soon as he was released by the Houston Texans. After a few years of sub-standard performances from the punter position, the Eagles struck gold with Jones, who consistently boomed long punts with great hang time to either negate punt return yardage or pin opposing offenses deep in their own territory. He set the Eagles franchise record for punts downed inside the 20-yard line with 33 (tied for third in the NFL), and his 40.5-yard net punting average tied for seventh-best in the NFL. Jones, who is entering his 11th NFL season, signed a three-year contract with the Eagles in March.